Wildlife in Newfoundland’s forests is wreaking havoc on the research of Lucas Brehaut, a wildfire scientist studying forest regrowth post wildfires in Atlantic Canada. Brehaut’s team is using open-top chambers to mimic warming temperatures on seedlings. However, animals like caribou, moose, bears, and wolves are not only damaging the research equipment but also stealing temperature sensors. Despite these challenges, Brehaut remains understanding, acknowledging that animals are just curious inhabitants of their natural habitat.
Kaitlyn Gaynor, a professor at the University of British Columbia, explains that animals, especially intelligent ones like bears, are naturally curious about new objects that may be potential resources. Additionally, the human scent left on equipment may attract animals. Gaynor suggests minimizing human impact by reducing scent, quick field visits, and camouflaging equipment. Animal interference during research is a global issue, as seen in Gaynor’s work in Mozambique, where baboons, hyenas, and elephants disrupt research activities.
While animals pose a significant challenge to research, Brehaut has also faced human-related incidents, such as snowmobiles damaging his research sites. Despite these setbacks, researchers like Brehaut and Gaynor continue their work, adapting to the unpredictable interactions with wildlife in their research environments.